Important Formulas for Quilting
I often hear people complain about the MATH in quilting. Why
can’t it be easier? Well here are a few tips that I will pass on to you and
hope they will help you out.
Half Square Triangles (HST) – To start, you need to know the
FINISHED size of the HST. Sometimes the pattern will tell you this, but often
they do not. Please check the tutorial on Determining Grid Size to help figure
out what the finished sizes will be.
Step 1 – determine the FINISHED size of the HST.
Step 2 – add ONE FULL inch to the measurement from Step 1
Step 3 – cut your squares to the measurement from Step 2
Step 4 – make the HST (press them to the dark or appropriate
side if necessary)
Step 5 – TRIM them to the FINISHED size PLUS 1/2" (for seam allowance)
Example 1– I need TWO INCH finished half square triangles.
Therefore, I cut my squares at THREE inches. Make the HST and trim to 2 1/2".
Example 2 – I need TWO and ONE HALF INCH finished half
square triangles. I cut my squares at 3 1/2"
inches. Make the HST and trim to 3 inches.
Hopefully you see the pattern. The math is the SAME
regardless of the size – just make sure you follow the steps above.
Quarter Square Triangles (QST) – To start, you need to know
the FINISHED size of the QST. Sometimes the pattern will tell you this, but
often they do not.
Step 1 – determine the FINISHED size of the QST.
Step 2 – add ONE and
ONE HALF INCH to the measurement from
Step 1
Step 3 – cut your squares to the measurement from Step 2
Step 4 – make the QST (you are adding 1 1/2" because making the QST involves TWO
seams and therefore you need a bigger square to accommodate the seam allowances
for those two seams)
Step 5 – TRIM them to the FINISHED size PLUS 1/2"
Example 1– I need TWO INCH finished quarter square
triangles. Therefore, I cut my squares at 3
1/2" inches. Make the QST
and trim to 2 1/2".
Example 2 – I need TWO and ONE HALF INCH finished quarter
square triangles. I cut my squares at 4" inches. Make the QST and trim to
3 inches.
Hopefully you see the pattern. The math is the SAME
regardless of the size – just make sure you follow the steps above.
Thank you for good tutorials
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